Why does the bell of Hanshan Temple ring 108?

Every midnight on New Year's Eve in China, the bell will ring 108 to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new year, and the Chinese people will celebrate the Spring Festival together. 108 is a mysterious and auspicious number in ancient China. Regarding the custom of ringing the bell 108, the earliest record in China is the poem "Late Bell Poetry" written by Mi Fei, a poet in the Song Dynasty, which reads: "The turtle hill is towering in the clouds, and the bell of the moon roars at the iron cow, and one hundred and eighty sounds are heard, and I don't know how to rest at night." Thus, the bell of 108 has been ringing in China for more than 1000 years.

There are many legends and sayings about the origin of the number 108:

1 and 108 are from ancient legends in China. In ancient times, it was believed that "Nine" had auspicious and extremely high meanings, such as "Kyushu", "Jiuding" and "Land of Kyushu". In the Book of Changes, "Nine" is listed as the first divination. 12 of 9 is 108, 108 pushes the meaning of 9 to the limit.

2. 108 originated from Buddhism. In Buddhism, the number 108 occupies an important position. Buddhism believes that people have 108 kinds of troubles. If you ring the bell, you can get rid of a trouble. If you ring the bell, you can get rid of all your troubles. At the same time, "108" also runs through the daily life of Buddhism and Buddhist objects, such as ringing bells 108, chanting scriptures 108, plucking pearls 108, Bodhisattva having 108, and the number of shrines is also/kloc-.

3. 108 comes from folk festivals. If a year is divided into 12 months, there are 24 solar terms and 72 cycles, and the sum of them is 108. If you take it often, you will have a good harvest.

4. 108 comes from an ancient building. Ancient architecture in China attaches great importance to the wonderful number "108". For example, there are 108 stone pillars on each floor of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, 108 lions and beasts carved on the eaves of Jokhang Temple in Lhasa (it has a history of 1300 years), and the most magnificent Dajing Temple in Taer Temple in Qinghai has 108 huge wooden pillars with a diameter of one meter.

5. 108 comes from classic works. Many classical works in China also have a special liking for the mysterious number "108". For example, the 108 tripitaka in the Lama Temple in Beijing, the Dream of Red Mansions by Cao Xueqin 108, and the Water Margin by Shi Naian, Liangshan hero 108.

"108" is the most auspicious and mysterious number in China tradition. It has gone through one beautiful spring after another with the people of China.